Perceptions of nurses on clinical nursing leadership Exploring perceptions of nurses on applying clinical nursing leadership competences in order to empower patients in hospital to self-manage their own health condition.

Abstract

Background: Hospitalization can be considered a disempowering situation a patient can experience. Patients feel completely dependent on hospital staff. Upon discharge, however patients are expected to self-manage their own health. Empowering patients during a hospital stay can lead to self-management and may help to bridge the gap between hospital and home. CNL is an important competence for nurses to empower patients. In daily practice, it is however unclear how nurses apply CNL in order to empower patients to self-manage. Aim: To explore the perceptions of nurses on applying clinical nursing leadership competences in order to empower patients to self-manage their own health condition. Method: A generic descriptive qualitative research using semi-structured focus group interviews with general hospital nurses was performed. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Four main themes were identified. Results indicate that nurses show CNL by continuing health-education and instruction which was seen as a key element of self-management. Nurses provide tailored care by guaranteeing the continuation of care, anticipating and estimating patients’ needs. Professional decisions in cooperation with patients were made, whilst nurses maintain control. Nurses value self-management and are aware of its challenges such as work-pressure and set routines in a hospital. Conclusion: Findings suggest that nurses are aware of the importance of self-management but have challenges to show CNL due to lack of knowledge about activities that cover self-management support, set routines and work pressure. Recommendations: Future research should focus on how self-management is shaped in the hospital. Nurses should develop CNL skills and increase their expertise on self-management, empowerment and person-centered care to be able to empower patients’ self-management.